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y 9 3. c. A. WETZELL 1,907,419

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Filed Dec. 18, 1931 Clara A. M zzeZZ.

INVENTOR Hls ATTORNEYS Patented May 2, I933 uNrran STATES CLARE A.WETZELL, OF STERLING, ILLINOIS Application filed December 18, 1931.Serial No. 581,973.

This invention relates to certain novel improvements in tops, and hasfor its principal object the provision of an improved construction ofthis character which will be entertain- 5 ing in use and economical tomanufacture.

I am aware that in the toy makers art various types of spring-rotatedtops are known and likewise various types of spinning heads and triggermechanisms for releasing the tops from the spinning heads in the act ofspinning the tops. All of these devices of the prior art, however,pertain to means for spinning a single top and there has not heretoforebeen known or provided a device which will simultaneously spin a groupor plurality of spring-wound tops.

It is, therefore, the primary object of this invention to provide newand novel means for accomplishing the novel result of simultaneouslyspining by mechanical means a group or plurality of spring-wound tops.

Other objects of the invention are: To provide a new and unique spinninghead common to and for winding a plurality or group of spring-woundtops; and to provide a new and unique combination of the said spinninghead with a trigger mechanism by means of which, in a simple operation,a group or plurality of spring-wound tops may be simultaneously releasedfrom the spinning head in the act of spinning the tops.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the novel combination and arrangement of partsto be hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanyingdrawing showing the preferred form of construction, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a practical embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view on line 2-2 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the spinning head on line 33 in Fig. 2;V

Fig. 4 is a topplan view of the spinning head on line 44: in Fig. 2; and

Fig. 5 is a perspective detailed view of a conventional type of top thatis employed to illustrate the invention.

In the drawing, which represents a pre ferred and practical embodimentof the invention, I have illustrated the invention as employing a groupof two tops 10 of conventional design, each having a body 11 and a stem12; although it is to be understoodthat I do not limit the invention toa group of two tops but'may, with such modifications in structure aswill come within the scope of the appended claims, employ a group of alarger number of tops. The tops 10 illustrated may be made of anysuitable material and be of any desired design.

My invention includes spinning head 13 which provides a common supportfor the group of tops 10 and this head 13 may be made of any'suitablematerial such as, for example, wood or metal and be of any desiredshape.

In the head 13 there are provided passages 14: for the top windingsprings 15, each of Which has an end portion attached tothe head 13 asat 16. The spinning head 13 is provided with passages 17 in each ofwhich is a spring-actuated pin 18; the pins 18 being urged by springs 19into bearing engagement with caps 20 attached to the bodies 11 of thetops 10. In each of the caps 20 a series of radially arranged recesses21 is provided and the pins 18 are urged by the Y springs 19 to disposethe outer end portions of the pins in these recesses to hold the tops inengagement with the spinning head during and after completion of thewinding of the springs 15 with the tops 10 and the head 13 are assembledand the hooked ends 22 of the springs 15 are engaged in preselectedrecesses 21 in the caps 20. Attached to the spinning head 13, o formedintegrally therewith as desired, is. a finger grip 28 in which isprovided a passage 24. Movably associated with the finger grip 28 bybeing slidably mounted in the passage 2 1 is a plungeror trigger 25 forreleasing the tops 10 as a group from the spinning head after thecompletion of the winding operation. Movable by the trigger25 by beingattached thereto is a member 26 which is movable in a slot 27 in thefinger grip 23'and the upon the top stems 12 whereby the group of tops10 may be simultaneously released as a group from the spinning head,after the completion of the winding operation, by pressing with thethumb or finger upon the trigger 25 While holding the finger grip 23 inthe hand; thus simultaneously spinning a group of tops by means of asingle operation and creating an effect that is both novel in the artand entertaining. 7

It is evident that by lengthening the member 26 and the common supportor spinning head 13 and by providing additional springs 15 andassociated parts the number of tops 10 that may be mounted in thespinning head or common support 13 and simultaneously released as agroup therefrom may be increased to any number desired.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form ofconstruction for carrying my invention into effect, this is capable ofvariation and modification without departing from the spirit of theinvention. I, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precisedetails of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of suchvariations and modifications as come within the scope of the appendedclaims 7 Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new anddesire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. A toy comprising a spinning head for a group of tops, each includinga stem, spring means carried by the head for winding the tops, said headincluding a portion providmg-a finger grip, means for holding the topson the head during and after completion of the Winding operation, and atrigger mechanism including a member slidably mounted in sa1d fingergrip and operable upon said stems for simultaneously releasing the topsfrom the headin the act of spinning the tops.

2. A toy comprising a common support for a group of tops each includinga stem, spring means carried by the support for winding the tops, meansfor holding the tops on the support during and after completion of theWinding operation, a finger grip on the support having a slot formedtherein, a trigger movably associated with the finger grip, and a memberattached to the trigger slidable in said slot and'operable upon saidtrigger to disengage the tops simultaneously from said holding meansduring the act of spinning the tops.

3. In a toy, the combination of a top spinning head, a group ofspring-wound tops each including a stem, an individual spring windingmechanism for each of said tops, said mechanisms being carried by andspaced apart on said head, means for holding each of said tops on thespinning head during and after completion of the winding operation,

and a trigger release mechanism carried by said head and common to allof the tops in able in said passages Within said Winding mechanisms,means for holding each of said tops on the spinning head during andafter completion of the winding operation, and a trigger releasemechanism carried by said head and common to all of the topsrin saidgroup, said triggermechanism including elements operable simultaneouslyupon said stems fo releasing said tops as a group from the spinning headduring the act of spinning the tops.

5. In a toy, the combination of a top spining head having a plurality ofspaced apart passages provided therein, an individual coil spring'topwinding mechanism in each of said passages, a group of spring-wound topseach including a stem, said stems being receivable in said passageswithin said coil spring mechanisms and each having a portion adapted toproject out from the corresponding passage beyond said head, means forholding each of said tops on the head during and after completion of thewinding operation, and a trigger release mechanism carried by said headhaving elements operable upon said projecting stem portions forreleasing said tops from said head during the act of spinning the tops.

6. In a toy, the combination of a top spinning head having a pluralityof spaced apart passages provided therein, an individual coil springtopwinding mechanism in each of said passages, a group of spring-woundtops each including a stem,said stems being receivable in said passagesWithin said coil spring mechanisms and each having a portion adapted toproject out from the corresponding passage beyond said head, means forholding each of said tops on the head during and after completion of thewinding operation, said head including a portion having a slot formedtherein, and a trigger release mechanism for said tops, said triggermechanism including a plunger slidably mounted in said slot and elementsattached to and proj ecting from said plunger, said elementsbeingadapted'to bear upon said projecting stem portions'for simultaneouslyreleasing said tops as a group from said head during the act of spinningthe tops.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

CLARE A. WETZELL.

